Machine for collecting insects from plants.



No. 763,953. PATBNTED JULY 5, 1904.

W. M. BOLBN. MACHINE FOR CULLECTING INSECTS FROM PLANTS.

APPLICATION-FILED FEB. 24, 1903. N0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Hdiigzsce No. 763,953. PATLNTLL JULY 5,1904.

Y V W. M. BCLLN. MACHINE PCN CCLLLCTINC INSLCTS FROM PLANTS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 24, 1903.

No MODEL' Z 2 sHLBTs-sHBNT a.

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1111 M. BOLEN, F YARBRUVILLIG, TEXAS.

AGHiNE FOR CGLLECTING INSECTS FROM PLANTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. "763,953,` dated July 5, 1904.

Application filed 'ehrunry 24, 1903. Serial No. 144,775. (No model.)

Be it known that l, VM/rnn M. Hoelang a citizen of the United States, residing' at Yarbroville, in the county of Limestone and State of Texas, have invented anew and useful Machine for Collecting' Insects from llants, of

,ing` wheelsl 11 11.

which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to machines for collecting` insects from plants upon which they are operating', and more particularly to one adapted for use in fields of cotton to gather therefrom the destructive cotton-bell weevil.

'lhe cotton-weevil punctures the blossom or the bell and deposits its eggs, which hatch therein and cause the boll to drop; but the young' weevils remain and when full grown emerge and attack the bolls again and deposit their eggs as before, and so on, and very soon destroy' the crop, the work of these insects continuing` over the whole period of growth. Hence the means employed to eradicate them must be adapted to act at different periods of their growth and activity. 'lhis pest has caused incalculable loss in cotton-growing` countries, and to provide an effectual and inexpensive machine for collecting the insects and the bells containing them for destruction by fire or other means is the principal object of my invention.

1n the aceomjjianying' drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of one embodiment of my invention. Fig'. 2 is a central vertical longitudinal section therethrough. Fig'. 3 is a rear elevation. Fig". a isa top plan view, and Fig'. 5 is a detail elevation showing` the collectingpipes arranged for operatingl upon young' cotton.

Similar characters indicate like parts throughout the several iignres of the drawings.

A main axle, designated by the numeral 10, carries at its lends main supportingv and driv- Upon this axle are supported side bars or hounds 12 12, extending to a forward `cross-bar 13 and forming' therewith and the platform to be hereinafter described the supporting'rame-for the elements. At or near the ends of the forward cross-bar are formed sockets 14 14, each receiving a spindle 15 of a lwaring-fork 11'), in'which a small wheel 17 is journaled. 'l`e permit vertical adjustment of the forward end of the frame and devices which it carries with relation to the ground, the spindle is preferably movably secured in the socket by a set-screw 18, and to allow the machine to turn readily the bearing is swiveled upon` the spindle at 1S). To the cross-bar is secured suitable draftrigging' 2l), preferably for two animals, both said animals and the wheels being' so separated that they may operate between the rows of cotton.

Upon the side and cross bar is mounted a platform 21, carrying a casing or receptacle 22 of suitable size and preferably extending beyond the edg'e. This receptacle, conveniently in its overhang'ing lower portion is provided with a hing'ed door 23, fastened by a hook 24 or the like and serving to allow the removal of the contents of the receptacle. in inclined wall 25 within thereceptacle extends from the forward wall to the odg-e of the door to direct material thereto. At the top of the casing a d'ivers seat 24' may be placed, and near it through the upper wall is shown an openingclosed by a cover 27 to permit inspection of the interior when desired.

From the rear wall of the box near the top projects a pipe or hollow head 28, and from each side of this head extends an elbow 2f), with itsouterendextending' downward. 'lhe distance between these ends may be substantially equal to the distance between adjacent rows of cotton. 'l`o the elbowsare preferably secured flexiblesections 2. of leather or like material, and into pipe-section 29" below the flexible sections telescope depending pipes or conduits 30, vertically zuljustablfgx therein and retained in position by set-screws or other suitable securing' devices 3l. At the lower end each pipe 3i) is provided with a flattened mouthpiece 32', having' considerable lateral extension'.

Upon the platform just in front of the receptacle is mounted a suction-fan 33, connected at its c ve by a pipo 34 to a hollow head 35, situated in the front wall opposite thehead 28. Across the opening from the receptacle into this head is placed a sheet of gauze or perforated metal 35" to prevent material from being drawn outot the receptacle into the tan. The outlet 36 of the fan extends down through the platform toward the ground and has at each side guard-wings 37, fastened to the frame. The fan-shaft 38 carries a pinion 39, connected by intermediate gearing with a gear 40, secured through arms 41 to the spokes of one ot' the wheels 11. The intermediate gearing may be carried upon a Aiframe t2, secured tothe frame and receptacle, and maycomprise three shafts, each designated as L13 and carrying a pinion 44 and gears 45, intermeshing to form a train ot' speed-np gearing, the elements of which may be so proportioned or the number of these elements so varied as to give the desired speed of rotation to the fan.

in advance of the blast-outlet of the fan and the suction-conduits is a sweep 46, which is preferably in the `form of a broom and is shown as hinged at 4:7 beneath the platform.

The machine should be first used upon the starting of the weevil upon the young cotton. Itis driven along the rows with the sweep lowered and operating over the rows to dislodge weevils. At this time the mouthpieces are preferably crossed or joined, as is illustrated in Fig. 5, to act together directly upon the plants to draw up the weevils by the suction into the receptacle. Later, when the bolls have become loosened through the effect of the insects .upon them and these are attacking the more matured heads.,A the sweep is either removed `or turned upward under the framework and secured, andthe suction-pipes are allowed to hang separately with the mouthpieces acting b veen the rows to draw up boils and squares ,vith the worms.. rihe downward blast from the tan at 3o acting in advance of the coliecting mechanism serves at all times to blow oit loose boils and other parts attacked by the weevils, so that tl e suction ma)v gather them from the ground. The dis tance from the ground and plant of both the blast-deliveryY and sweep constituting the dislodging devices may be varied to some extent by thc adjustment ot' the ground-wheels toward and i'rom the traine. liv this means the plants mayY be treated througlmutthc whole period ot' time during which the insects act upon .them and the nnichimfy adiuf-ited to the changingr conditions and circumstaimes not only of the growth ot' the plants, hut also ot the growth and habits of the insects. 'lhe ilexible sections 2?" provide for the adjustment oi' i the enlarged receiving ends 32 to an); part of the growing plants, and thus enable the insects to hc removed from all parts ol'l the issuing therefrom against the plants upon plants and during all periods of the growth.

The device mayY be modilied in mino and enlarged or decreased in size, as m, rc-4 65 quired, Without aiecting the principle of the invention or sacriticing any,r oli its advantages.

Having thus described my invention, i claim-- 1. The combination with a movable ecoptacle, of a supporting-t`rame, a conduit having a mouthpiece extending into proa nity with the objects to be operated upon, means for creating suction through said conduit, and sv 'ee p connected hingedly with the iframe in advance of the mouthpiece.

2. The combination with a movable receptacle, of a conduit having a mout-hn' yce errtending into proximity with tlc objects to be operated upon, means for creatin suction through the conduit, and means vfor delivering a blast in advance of the mouthpiece.

3. The combination with a movable receptacle, of a conduit havingu a mouthpce en tending into 'proximity with the objects te bt operated upon, means for creatin through the conduit, means for de blast in advance of thc mouthpiece, ai'. .i sweep operating in advance ot the blast-delivery.

d. The combination with a iframe supported by wheels, ot a receptacle mounted upon the frame, conduits extending from the receptacle toward the ground, means tor raising material through the conduits, and a sweep hinged near the Forward portion ot the frame.

The combination with a frame su ppm-ted upon wheels, ot a receptacle mounted upon the frame,-conduits extending lfrom the. reccptac toward the ground, a casing connected inlet with the receptacie, a foraminous ratingpiece between the casing and the recup tacle, a fan within the casing, a spout noch the latter directing the discharge from the Yan. downwardly in advance et the conduits, and means for operating the tan.

6. 'The combination with a frame si upon wheels, ot receptacle mounted trame, conduits extending from the rr toward the ground, nieans'ifor raf rial through the conduits, adislodg projecting downwardly from the lrzu 2., and means for adjusting the height olI the frame.

T. 'lhe combinationy with a frame having a platform, ol' pairs ol rear and forward wheels, collecting mechanism situated at the rear ol: the trame, a dislodging device locntinl ucar the forward part of the trame, and incnns for adjustingl the distance between the Vforward wheels and the platform.

8. An insoct-desti-ovine' apparatus couiprisingr a' truck, a lri\'in;-sliat't with whe-cis rotating tluuewith, a fan and casing therefor, geared connections hotu'enn Ihrv driving hatt and tan, a pneumatic par-sawway7 a nos/,Zie at one cud thereof adapted to dirci-t the r-.urrcnt which the nSeets appear, and pipes communimy own 1 have hereto affixed my signature in eating; with the casing and through which the the presence of two witnesses. mseets me drawn by suction and :1 Screen po- M. FN. Smoned m Saul passage-way and adapted to WALVHJR I OL J 5 separate the insects from the pneumatic eur- W ltnesses:

rent, und means for collecting; the insects. S. A. MCCLELLAN,

ln testimony that i claim the foregoing as R. CARROLL. 

